Esther Dietterich Barthel

Esther Dietterich Barthel ‘Dede’ Dede Barthel died peacefully at the Summit of Westlake Hills, her home since 1995 on Wednesday, September 1, 2004. She was 94 years of age, having been born on July 14, 1910 in Oil City, Pennsylvania to Myrtle Colwell Dietterich and Howard Kenton Dietterich. She was educated in the public schools of this rural Western Pennsylvania area, but she yearned for the wider world and an education in the Fine Arts. This passion took her first to Allegheny College where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. Though her life was full, this only child of rural Pennsylvania took herself, in 1931, to Syracuse University in order to pursue her dream. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1933. While at the University, she met her future husband Justus Charles ‘Peter’ Barthel who was a student in the Syracuse University College of Forestry. A true passion for New England was given life when she married Peter in 1937 and they moved to Stamford, Connecticut where she was able to pursue her watercolor painting and raise their family. Over the years, she won many awards and participated in many shows. Most notably, her painting, “Pittsburg Morning”, was displayed in the Chicago Museum of Art in 1961, following the family’s move to Hinsdale, Illinois in 1959. Besides her love of art, Dede was most happy being with friends and family, especially if that could be combined with being on the Atlantic Shore. Dede and Peter had two daughters, Sally Barthel Heinze of Austin, Texas and Barbara Barthel Brown of Las Vegas, Nevada. After Peter’s retirement in 1976, Peter and Dede moved to Lakeway, Texas, and she continued to be involved in painting especially through the Waterloo Artists, but she also could be found on the golf course. A woman of varied tastes and accomplishments, she was involved in various community and church activities and also as a hospital volunteer. After Peter’s death in 1980, Dede traveled extensively throughout the world. Surviving to celebrate her life are her two daughters; six grandchildren, Kirsten Heinze Caldwell and husband Chris of Austin, Texas, Scott Everett Heinze and wife Henthe of Reno, Nevada, Kenton Charles Heinze and wife Kellye of Austin, Texas, Todd Barthel Heinze and wife Robyn of Boulder, Colorado, Cherin Brown Aguilar and husband John of San Diego, California, and Peter Brice Brown of Incline Village, California; seven great- grandchildren, Michael and Emma Caldwell, Orion and Riette Heinze, Peyton and Sarah Heinze and Nicholas Aguilar. Also surviving is her former son-in-law and friend Everett G. Heinze, Jr. MD and Sally’s partner, Kathryn M Young. The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Summit of Westlake Hills who treated Dede with grace and dignity giving her the care that will long be remembered. A graveside service will be held at 11AM Monday, September 13, 2004 at the Forest Oaks Memorial Park Cemetery with The Reverend Judy Skaggs officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Heart Society or the American Lung Society. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish FunAeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, Austin, Texas.